Gao Teng

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Gao Teng (高腾)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Fifth Middle School, Class Five; Public Security Bureau auxiliary staff 4 5
Occupation/Role	Senior high-school martial arts student; sewer monster hunter
Status	Active 35
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Level 2, Early Qi Condensation	1	Recorded at 397/600 cultivation, with 2.16 physical strength and 1.92 mental strength after awakening his cultivation-stealing divine power.
Level 2, Mid-stage Qi Condensation	9	Reached 21/800 cultivation after thirteen consecutive steals from Zhou Xing; physical strength rose to 2.48 and mental strength to 2.03.
Basic Breathing Technique, Level 3	20	Seventeen steals raised his physical strength by 0.83 to 3.31 and advanced his internal technique to Level 3, 64%.
Basic Breathing Technique, Level 4; Basic Body Forging Technique, Level 7	30	Seventeen steals from Zhou Xing brought him to 266/800 cultivation, 3.31 physical strength, and 2.48 mental strength.
Mental Strength, Level 3	34	Eleven steals increased his cultivation to 567/800, physical strength to 3.46, and mental strength to 3.16; he was nearing another realm breakthrough.
Physical Strength 3.46	35	His ten-day strength test showed an increase from 1.56 to 3.46, astonishing Chen Yan and Class Five.

Background / History

Gao Teng remembers a previous life on Earth, where he worked as a delivery driver until dying from overwork. After arriving in his current world, he awakened a divine power that steals cultivation, enabling him to escape the poor martial aptitude associated with his body. 1 4

His parents died in a rat plague six years earlier. He exhausted his family’s wealth on martial arts, sold the family home, and inherited more than 300,000 yuan in online-loan debt after his predecessor overdosed on cultivation medicine. 4 21

Initially ranked last in Class Eight, Gao Teng refused homeroom teacher Zhao Dapeng’s demand that he drop out to work at a construction site. He reported Zhao’s coercion and unequal treatment to Principal Liang Guofu, resulting in his transfer to Class Five under Chen Yan. 1 3 4

To earn money and merit points, Gao Teng became a Public Security Bureau auxiliary staff member and hunted mutated rats and insects in the sewers at night. His work brought him into a regular partnership with Zhang Meizhu. 5 7

Personality

Gao Teng is intensely ambitious and determined to escape poverty. His central goal is to enter a top-tier university, gain status and resources, and never again live at the bottom of society. He refuses financial assistance from both Zhang Meizhu and Meng Yao because he wants to advance by his own means. 1 9 29

He is sarcastic, provocative, and fond of teasing his companions—especially Zhang Meizhu and Meng Yao. His humor often escalates arguments, but it also reflects his confidence and refusal to be intimidated. 8 16 28

His morality is selective. Gao Teng regards stealing Zhou Xing’s cultivation as retribution for Zhou’s bullying and extortion, and he takes satisfaction in Zhou’s collapse. However, when trapped by the Rat King’s swarm, he hesitates to steal Zhang Meizhu’s hard-earned cultivation unless survival leaves him no alternative. 19 20 34

Abilities & Skills

Cultivation-Stealing Divine Power

Gao Teng can steal another person’s cultivation-related gains. He receives ten free theft attempts per day and can exchange merit points earned from killing monsters for additional attempts. 1 9

• Can steal cultivation, physical strength, mental strength, and technique proficiency. 1 9 33
• Has repeatedly used Zhou Xing as his primary source of stolen power, rapidly improving while causing Zhou’s cultivation and mental state to deteriorate. 1 20 34
• Can use the power to recover from injuries by stealing physical strength; after fighting Zhou Xing’s group, his bruises faded and fractured bones healed following a theft. 33 34
• Has a limited number of attempts and must accumulate merit points to perform extra steals. 1 8 25
• Avoided using the ability on Zhang Meizhu during the rat-swarm crisis because doing so could destroy her chance of entering a top-tier university. 19

Snake Taming Technique

During the Snake Island ambush, Gao Teng acquired 16% proficiency in the Snake Taming Technique after hearing the enemy’s whistle and using a theft attempt. 25

• Controls snakes through whistling infused with internal energy. 25
• Overrode the enemy’s control of a venomous snake swarm, stopping its attack on teachers and students. 25
• Used the controlled swarm to eliminate the snakes and gain substantial merit points. 25
• His initial proficiency was limited; he had to move closer because his whistle could not yet carry across the entire mountain. 25

Martial Arts and Combat

Gao Teng practices the Basic Breathing Technique, Basic Body Forging/Tempering Technique, Basic Meditation, and Basic Eighteen Fist Forms. 1 30

• Uses a fierce, heavy sword style when fighting sewer creatures. 7
• Demonstrates quick reactions, strength, and caution against mutated creatures, including the Green Snake and Snake Island’s venomous snakes. 12 23 24
• Defeated Zhou Xing and several other Level 2 martial artists despite sustaining injuries, relying on superior physical strength and willingness to trade injury for injury. 32 33
• Intends to acquire high-grade martial arts for the college entrance examination’s practical duels. 35

Equipment / Items

• Long sword / blade — Used for killing mutated rats and fighting venomous snakes. 7 24
• Bicycle — His usual transportation between school, his rented room, and sewer assignments. 4 9
• Public Security Bureau auxiliary uniform — Worn while carrying out sewer-hunting work. 31
• Nectar Pill — An emergency antidote given to him by Meng Yao after he was bitten by a venomous snake; it neutralized the poison. 27

Relationships

• Zhou Xing — Former Class Eight top student, bully, extortionist, and Gao Teng’s principal cultivation-stealing target. Gao Teng repeatedly drains him, later defeats him and his gang, and ultimately drives him into a delusional breakdown. 1 32 34
• Zhang Meizhu — Sewer-hunting partner. They fight effectively together, trade constant sarcastic banter, and gradually develop mutual concern and trust. 5 8 19 30
• Chen Yan — Homeroom teacher of Class Five. She welcomes Gao Teng after his transfer, worries about his poverty and safety, and supports his decision to participate in Snake Island training. 4 21 27
• Meng Yao — Class Five teammate and Level 4 martial artist. She helped Gao Teng on Snake Island, saved him with a Nectar Pill, and repeatedly offers him material support that he declines. 23 25 27 35
• Zhu Hong — Former deskmate from Class Eight. Though fearful of Zhou Xing’s gang, he warns Gao Teng of their ambush; Gao Teng later recovers money extorted from Zhu Hong. 10 32 34
• Zhao Dapeng — Former Class Eight homeroom teacher. Zhao attempted to force Gao Teng to drop out and work for him, leading Gao Teng to report him and transfer classes. 1 3
• Ma Wei — Public Security Bureau deputy chief. He recognizes Gao Teng’s role in ending the Snake Island snake attack and promises to apply for a reward. 16 25
• Lin Benqiang — Meng Yao’s uncle and a Fuxing Pharmaceutical executive. Initially suspects Gao Teng of seeking Meng Yao’s wealth, then offers conditional investment if Gao Teng’s physical test results meet the company’s standards. 29 31
• Liu Ming — Gao Teng’s Class Five deskmate and Snake Island teammate. Liu Ming offers cultivation guidance and readily agrees to protect Gao Teng during the training. 4 23

Story Role / Major Arcs

Class Eight Conflict

Gao Teng begins as Class Eight’s lowest-ranked student while secretly stealing Zhou Xing’s cultivation. After Zhao Dapeng attempts to force him out of school and repeatedly humiliates him, Gao Teng reports the teacher and transfers to Class Five. 1 3 4

Sewer Merit Hunting

Working as an auxiliary, Gao Teng hunts mutated creatures in the sewers with Zhang Meizhu to earn merit points for more theft attempts. Their hunts involve rat swarms, a mutant creature, and the Green Snake incident, through which Gao Teng proves his combat ability. 5 7 8 12

Snake Island Training

Despite being marked with a scent that attracts snake-type monsters, Gao Teng joins the dangerous Snake Island field training. During a coordinated snake attack, he learns Snake Taming Technique, takes control of the swarm, and helps prevent further casualties. 21 24 25

Retribution Against Zhou Xing

Gao Teng continues draining Zhou Xing at Mercy Hospital and school, strengthening himself while worsening Zhou’s condition. When Zhou Xing attempts to extort him again and assembles a gang at the back mountain, Gao Teng defeats them, recovers extorted money, and steals enough power to push Zhou Xing into madness. 30 32 33 34

Pursuit of Higher Martial Arts

After Zhou Xing’s collapse, Gao Teng turns his attention toward stealing Zhao Dapeng’s cultivation and obtaining higher-grade martial arts for the college entrance examination’s practical duels. His extraordinary ten-day physical-strength increase begins attracting serious attention. 35

Notable Quotes

“I will never again fall to the bottom of society and have to look at others’ expressions!” 1

“If I were to act timidly because of a little difficulty, what could I possibly achieve in the future?” 21

“I don’t want to rely on anyone. I want to walk my own path.” 29